Several categories of these radios exist. Elise Faike in a recent article
gives a helpful birder-oriented survey of these, and considerable details
about one of them, the High Frequency 462-470 MHZ FM UHF Sport Radio
category. This includes both the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) types. The article is in *Birding*,
vol. 30 no. 3 (June 1998), pp. 241-243.

Another, older type, the familiar Citizens' Band (CB) radio, exists in
walkie-talkie versions and has been used by birders for years. For
example, field parties on Attu keep in touch with one another and home base
with CBs. The disadvantages of this setup are two, but they are minor.
One is size. The hand-held models are a bit bulkier than the more
miniaturized FRS sets, which are truly pocket-sized in some cases; but the
tradeoff is that CBs are also more powerful. Hand-held GMRS units are
about the same size as their CB counterparts, and also similar in power
(range, clarity of transmission). The second disadvantage for CBs is that
the bands can be more crowded with trucker-talk and that kind of thing.
However, this is rarely a problem away from congested urban areas and along
Interstate highway corridors -- places birds (and hence birders) tend to
avoid. One advantage to the CB over the Sport Radio bands is that it can
be real handy in an emergency to be able to go on the air with a call for
help and know that you have a pretty fair chance that someone is within
range and scanning. Another appreciable benefit for those who spend a lot
of time on forest roads (and the reason why I recently installed a CB in my
minivan) is that it can be reassuring to know in advance when a loaded log
truck is barreling downhill toward you around that next blind curve. Log
truck drivers and other regulars on these roads announce their positions
and progress as a courtesy to other drivers and a way of avoiding accidents.

GMRS units require an FCC license and fee. FMS and CB units do not.
Price-wise, CBs and FRSs are in the same range, while GMRSs cost roughly
twice as much. Mobile CB units with external whip antennae are in the same
price range as FRS and CB walkie-talkies. If you are a little bit handy
you can install one yourself. You can also obtain two adapters for your
hand-held CB: one that will allow you to power it from your dashboard
cigar lighter, and the other for connecting it via a length of coax cable
to a temporary antenna with a magnetic base that you slap on your car roof
or trunk deck. Power and range are somewhat less than with a hardwired
mobile installation, but greater than with a walkie-talkie. With one (or
more) of these setups you can use your fully-installed vehicle unit as a
base to stay in touch with multiple walkie-talkie equipped parties in the
field, as well as for communicating vehicle to vehicle in convoy formation
on car-birding trips.

Regardless of which type you choose, radio communication can add a lot to
the value and enjoyment of a birding trip, as Denny says.

Hal Opperman
Medina, WA
halop at accessone.com